J 



o 



l\ 



AN ADDRESS 




SeliOet-eil June 9, 1865, in 6eh)li()CiKeh)e9t S^H, 



UNIVERSITY AT LEWISBtlUfi, PA., 



BBFOKE THE 



STUDENTS OF THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. 



On the Occasion of their Celebrating the Completion 



ENDOWMENT FUND, 

By J. R. LOOMIS, LL. D., 

President. 



i 



1 



PUBLISHED BY REQCEST. 

LEWISKDRG, Pa.: 

J. R. CORNELIUS, PRINTER, *' CHRONICLB" OFFICE. 
1865. 



1 



AN ADDRESS 



Selibel-eJ Iwi 9, 1865, ii) Coloti|Jil«lv)W)i M^, 



UNIVERSITY AT LEWISBURG, PA., 



BEFOEE THK 



STUDENTS OF THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, 

On the Occasion of their Celebrating the Completion 



^ 



ENDOWMENT FUND, 

By Jl R. LOOMIS, LL. D., 

President. 



PUBLISHED BT REQUEST 



LEWISBURG, PA.: '■^'' •'V/ASW^**^ 

J. R. CORNEUUS, PRINTER, « OHRpNICLE" OFFIOkT^^ 

1865. 




ADDRESS 



The circumstances which have occasioned this gathering 
are somewhat peculiar, and it is proper that a brief reference 
should be made to them. 

An effort was in progress, (to which I shall again refer,) 
to raise, by subscription, the sum of one hundred thousand 
dollars, for the further endowment of this University. The 
sum is a large one, ond it was by no means certain that it 
could be secured. At a most important crisis in this enter- 
prise, and when it had not occurred to me even to inquire 
whether help could come from such a source, by a spontane- 
ous movement among the students in the several departments 
of this University, a subscription was raised of more than 
one thousand dollars. The encouragement, as well as the 
actual help it rendered to me, and the interests of which it 
was a proof on your part, constitute a sufficient reason for 
some special rejoicing, now, when the effort has proved a 
successful one ; and I regard it as no ordinary privilege that 
I am permitted to participate with you in your jubilant 
feelings on this occasion. 

It will not be out of place to devote a little time, this 
morning, to some of the general facts which characterize 
the collegiate institutions of our country. And I refer, in 
the first place, to their religious and, perhaps I should say, 
denominational character. If this were so in a very narrow 
sense, and so as to betray a spirit of bigotry, nothing could 
be more objectionable. But such is not the fact. All our 
colleges are accessible to young men of correct habits and 
sufficient attainments. We are free from all that are called 
religious tests. We are free from any required practices 
and observances which characterize particular denominations. 
We introduce into the curriculum of study no subjects or 
authors of a religious character which are not of the most 
catholic spirit. In these respects, our colleges have no 
denominational bias. They receive students of any religious 
belief, and without regard to denominational distinctions; 
and there is not, it may be presumed; a college in the coun- 



try in which the students do not represent several of tb© 
denominational religious organizations. In their educational 
character, therefore, they are freer from the enforcement of 
denominational peculiarities than the colleges of any other 
country in Christendom. We do not except those of G-er- 
many even^ while those of England and of the catholic 
countries of Europe do teach the sectarianism of their 
peculiar views. The literary institutions of countries 
beyond the pale of Christendom are intensely sectarian, 
making their religious views, whether Hebrew, Mohamedan 
or heathen, the basis^ and almost the superstructure, of their 
educational efforts. 

In this view, then, our colleges are established on a more 
liberal basis than any other in the world. But there is, 
nevertheless, a sense in which they are denominational. 
The Board of Control, under various names, has a denomi- 
national cast. In some eases, the charter, or by-laws, require 
that all the members of the board, or a majority of them, 
be members of a particular branch of the Christian church. 
In other cases, a majority of the board is actually of one 
form of belief, and thus the institution assumes its denomi- 
national character, without any stipulation of charter or by- 
laws. A college ie no more strictly denominational when it 
is made so by legal enactment than when it becomes so by 
the circumstance of a majority of its board of control being 
such as to give it a denominational character. 

Several of our American colleges were originally estab- 
lished as institutions of the State, purely. Of this class we 
may name Harvard University, the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, the University of Virginia and Michigan University. 
But so strong is the tendency towards denominational 
control, that several have yielded, and all will yield to it. 

What, then, is the nature of this denominational charac- 
ter of American colleges, of which so much is said ? It is 
not in the course of instruction — not in the forms and 
observances required — not in any circumstances pertaining 
to its educational character or practical workings — not in 
anything which afiects the student. It is altogether exterior 
to what may be designated as " student life.'^ It consists in 
the influence which denominational views have in appoint- 
ments to the board of control and the board of instruction, 
and the influence which these must have in securing patron- 



age and pecuniary support. Some modification of theso 
statements may be necessary in reference to the Catholic 
institutions of the country. If they were subject to inspec- 
tion, and were not sectarian in their teachings we should 
feel that they were worthy of general local patronage equally 
with the other denominational colleges. 

We naturally inquire how it has come to pass that, while 
the educational establishments of all other countries are 
controlled by the State, those of this country, where the 
form of government most imperatively demands a general 
diffusion of education, are almost exclusively neglected by 
the State, and sustained by the several religious denomina- 
tions. It results mainly from the freedom of our govern- 
ment and the absence of a State religion. There is ia 
England such freedom in religious matters that a large 
proportion of the people are dissenters from the established 
religion. Still, they have but small influence in the general 
scheme of education. They can establish no institution 
with power to confer degrees, and hence their efforts ia 
educational matters are confined mainly to the education of 
those who are candidates for the ministry. With us, there 
are no such restraints. Any association of individuals 
which can promise the requisite funds and patronage, may 
receive from the Legislature the legal right to hold the 
requisite endowments, furnish instruction and confer degrees. 
The several religious denominations have promptly availed 
themselves of these opportunities. The motive is primarily, 
in most cases, to provide instruction in literature and science 
for those who are afterwards to become divinity students. 
And to a large proportion of the membership of the 
churches this continues to be the chief motive, as it should 
be to all an important one. But with a large number of the 
better informed, there is superadded the more general 
motive of furnishing higher instruction, embracing the full 
range of liberal culture, to ail who may choose to avail 
themselves of such instruction. The maintenance of literary 
institutions is, in fact, become essential to denominational 
growth and even respectability. There is no sect that does 
not feel the advantage of having men of position in social, 
political or military life among its membership — that does 
not f^el the elevating influence of ecclesiastical association 
with authors; jurists and gtatesmen — that does not i^eel a 



6 

commendable pride in claiming denominational affinity with 
men of mark and influence and position and authority in a 
civil and political point of view. This relation can be 
established with those only who have a cultivated ministry 
and who appreciate and furnish culture. In a word, the 
educational life of a religious denomination is the measure 
and the means of its social status and influence. 

Such seem to be the motives which have thrust forward 
the several divisions of the Christian church in this country, 
to take upon themselves the whole burden, and to claim the 
whole privilege of conducting the scheme of liberal educa- 
tion amono- us. It is pre-eminently the outgrowth of that 
provision in our organic law by which we are debarred from 
an established religion. It is not because our republican 
form of government is averse to higher education. Where 
in the world will you find so large a proportion of the people 
educated ? It is not because our legislators do not appreciate 
liberal education. There would have been no backwardness 
in the establishment and endowmenc of State universities. 
As a matter of fact, there is no small degree of chagrin on 
the part of legislators in many of the States, because the 
governmental function of furnishing facilities for higher 
education has been in a measure monopolized by ecclesiastical 
oro-anizations. And hence the disposition, in some States, 
to interpose conditions, by legislative enactments, upon the 
colleo"es which are under denominational control. Other 
States try to cheat themselves and the public into the 
establishment of State colleges by calling them " Agricul- 
tural colleges," and mutilating the college curriculum. No 
charge can be made against our State authorities as averse 
to providing for higher education. The denominational 
intervention has not been because of any sluggishness on 
the part of governments, but from a higher sense of religious 
obligation. 

The fact, then, is, that most of our colleges and universi- 
ties are under denominational control. Then, of the few 
coUeo-es which have been established as State institutions, a 
part have passed under denominational control, and the 
remaining part must inevitably take upon themselves a 
,denominational character at no distant day. The tendency 
and the actual state of things justify us in saying that THE 
American System of Liberal Education consists in the 



cstablishmeut of seata of learning under denominational 
control. 

Accepting this as a fact, let us turn for a moment to its 
practical workings. Have they been beneficial ? It might, 
at first, be suspected that such a system would tend to 
embitter denominational feeling. But the opposite efi'ect 
has been produced. As the object of these institutions ia 
the furnishing of liberal education under denominational 
control, it becomes a matter of courtesy to exclude, or at 
least to temper, all sectarian discussions. 

Another effect has been to separate educational affairs 
from partizan politics. While the moral aspect of all the 
questions of the day are freely discussed, there is, by common 
consent, a perfect freedom for professor and pupil to be 
favorable or indifferent to either the men or the measures of 
any political organization, without working alienation of 
feeling, or loss of privilege, or forfeiture of position. 
Security in office is not dependent on the political complexion 
of a legislature. 

A third effect of this system is a more general interest in 
education. Very few persons are found in any community 
who have not some denominational preferences, and these 
connect them strongly with the prosperity of particular seats 
of learning. They give their money, and they give their 
influence. They know of youth who are about to enter 
some institution of learning, and they recommend the one 
towards which their ecclesiastical bias inclines them. Every 
one becomes a promoter of education, by encouraging to 
enter a course of study those who are debating with 
themselves what course of life they shall adopt. This 
encouragement grows out of their interest in some institution 
of learning. And thus, while each institution has its fair 
proportion of patronage, the entire public is awake to the 
educational progress of the generation that is coming on tO' 
fill the places of trust, and influence, and emolument in the 
land. 

The last advantage of this system to which I shall refer 
is the religious and moral effects. We have seen that no 
narrow sectarianism is encouraged. But a high morality 
and attention to personal religion are prominent among the 
influences of colleges. There is, generally, no organic 
connection between them and the churches, and yet there is 



8 

a relation of very great importance. There is thus exclu- 
ded all irreligious instruction or influence. No professor 
could retain his position and give expression to the irreli- 
gious views which have from time to time raised to great 
popularity some of the professors in German universities. 
But in this influence, churches go much further than that. 
They control the institutions. In every question of religion 
and morality, the animus of a college proceeds from the 
churches. Unconsciously td themselves, and unohserved by 
the faculty or students, they transfer their own religious 
character into the educational system of the country. And 
thus it is that, in the management of funds, in the appoint- 
ments to office, in the moral tone of the instruction given, 
in the government exercised, and in the effect which all 
these have over the classes of a college, the moral power and 
the Christian influence of the great mass of the Christian 
church is reflected. This could never be in a strictly State 
institution, as is most lamentably by the actual history of 
those which still receive their support, and depend upon 
appointments, from the State executive or from a board of 
control that is itself the creature of a fluctuating legislature 
and corrupt legislation. 

With this general exposition of the American system of 
collegiate institutions, I pass to some statements in regard to 
the efforts of the denomination in Pennsylvania, in educa- 
tional matters. This denomination had very considerable 
strength in Philadelphia and the contiguous parts in Penn- 
sylvania and New Jersey as early as the first half of the 
eighteenth century, and they were then among the foremost 
in their plans for the establishment of a seat of learning. 
Somewhat more than a century ago, James Manning a native 
of New Jersey and a graduate of Princeton college, presented 
to the Philadelphia Baptist Association a scheme for putting 
them into operation. His proposition was approved, and it 
was understood that Manning would devote himself to its 
accomplishment ? As we then had no other seat of learning 
the plan naturally awakened interest in other States,including 
all of New England and New York, and extending as far 
South as South Carolina. The charter of the colony of 
Rhode Island was more liberal in its provisions than that of 
any other colony, and on that account it was deemed proper 
to locate in Rhode Island. The small beginnings at first 



9 

made by President Manning, and the struggles of the Uni- 
versity for existence during many years, rehearsed in our 
day, would excite a smile if we did not know that the toil 
in poverty and in hope at that day laid the loundation of 
what is now Brown tlniversity. 

It will be seen, then, that that University originated ia 
Philadelphia, that it was designed to be the seat of learning 
for the denomination in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But 
peculiar circumstances not only led to its establishment ia 
Rhode Island but made it necessary that the denomination 
here should support it. And when our national independ- 
ence had been secured and dependence upon colonial condition 
ceased. Brown University was a fixture in Rhode Island. 
Thus the denomination in New Jersey and Pennsylvania 
lost a most important advantage. Whether the location of 
Brown University where it is has been most serviceable to 
the denomination we will not discuss. We only speak of 
the hindrance to the growth of the denomination here. We 
can hardly estimate the advantage which would have accrued 
to us from the existence among us for the last hundred 
years of such an Institution as Brown University. 

Some fifty years later the denomination became sufficiently 
numerous to propose again to establish a seat of learning. 
Accordingly Dr. Staughton commenced in a private way an 
Institution in Philadelphia. It soon received the sanction 
of the denomination and would ere long have become a 
college. But just at that time the Triennial Convention 
was formed in Philadelphia, and it was regarded as essential 
that the enterprise which Dr. Staughton was having charge 
of should come under its auspices. Thus it, too, for some 
of those reasons of State which are not always the mosi 
satisfactory, was transferred to Washington, and became 
Columbian College. Thus twenty more years were lost in 
inaugurating the movement, transferring the institution and 
recovering from the subsequent paralysis. 

In the year 1835, an institution was established under 
the patronage of the Baptists in the immediate vicinity of 
Philadelphia, and known as Haddington College. It con- 
tinued in full operation only two years, and was suspended. 
The eff'ort was, perhaps, a spasmodic one ; yet it was of no 
inconsiderable use. To a large number of young men it 



10 

gave a start in higber education and established sncli a tast« 
for study as to ensure a further prosecution of it. But a 
more important end was accomplished by convincing the 
leading men of the denomination that a broader pecuniary 
basis was necessary than they had before thought would be 
requisite. 

^ Thus it will be seen that while the Baptist denomina- 
tion had for a hundred years been making efforts for the 
establishment of a college for themselves they had so far 
been unsuccessful. Their efforts had been so overruled that 
while they labored other States appropriated the fruits. 
They continued to contribute both men and money for insti- 
tutions beyond their borders. 

In the year 1846 a movement was inaugurated in the 
Northumberland Association for the establishment of a 
college in central Pennsylvania. The details of the move- 
ment I need not dwell upon nor state the particular agency 
of the prominent men by whom the early efforts were put 
forth. And yet I can hardly allow myself to pass by this 
reference to the early history of the tjniversity at Lewis- 
burg without naming as among its originators, Dr. W. H. 
Ludwig, Dr. Taylor, James Moore, Sen., and Samuel Wolfe, 
who have all passed away. Nor would it be excusable in 
me to omit in the briefest enumeration the names of Rev. 
Joel E. Bradley, Hon. G-. F. Miller, and Joseph Meixell, 
James Moore, Thomas Wattson, Dr. Kincaid, and Dr. 
Shadrach, as prominent among those who labored through 
many dark days in the early struggles to establish and per- 
petuate this University. If time permitted, and there were 
DO indelicacy in eulogies upon the living, we could not 
enter upon a more welcome theme than calling up and 
Betting before you the unrequited and self-denying labors 
of these pioneers in the work, the completion of which you 
meet this day to celebrate. 

But we must be content merely to name a few of the 
leading men, and pass to the measures which they adopted. 
The first thing in every such enterprise is to raise funds. It 
was proposed to raise one hundred thousand dollars by subscrip- 
tion, and that sum was at length subscribed. It was, however, 
subscribed mostly in small sums, and payable in four install- 
ments. I knew of one subscription of fifty cents which was ac- 



11 

tually paid in installments of 12 J cents each without any effort 
at repudiation, and probably with as distinct a consciousness 
of contributing to the enterprise as those who had 
aided by subscriptions of hundreds. But it could not be 
expected that such subscriptions especially the later iH' 
etallments and the smaller sums would be all collected, and 
in fact not quite eighty thousand dollars including the New 
Jersey subscription was ultimately received. 

Of this sum a part was at once invested and constituted 
the beginning of a permanent endowment. With the 
remaining portion of this sum the present site of the 
University buildings was purchased. The Academy and 
West Wing of the University building were erected, and 
the appliances necessary for the reception of students and 
the opening of instruction were obtained. The first school, 
preliminary to a fuller organization, was taught in the pres^ 
ent basement of the Baptist church. 

About the year 1852, a second eflbrt was made to collect 
funds, and $45,000 was raised by a few men of meana 
without a general canvassing for that purpose. 

Some $20,000 has been realized from the sale of lands, 
and 30,000 has been received from subscriptions made in 
1857 and 1858 to obtain the means of completing the 
University edifice. Thus the entire receipts of the Univer- 
ity from ail sources (except tuition bills) has been $175,000. 
This sum of $175,000 has been expended as follows : 

Cost of Land and improvements on it $9,000 

Academy Building 8,000 

Institute Building and apparatus 20,000 

University Building 60,000 

Permanent fixtures: Lib. Cab. Phil, app 10,000 

Total $97,000 

Present amount of permanent investment 55,000 

Cash cost of the assets of the University $152,000 

There was expended in travelling expenses,agea- 
cy, interest paid, balances (not covered by tuition,) 
due and paid to professors up to 1858 $23,000 

$175,000 



12 

Since 1858, no moneys hare been raised by subscription, 
and jet the annual expenses have been considerably more 
than the income from tuition and interest on the funds in- 
vested. A debt has been of necessity gradually accumula- 
ting. Within the last three years, some efforts have been 
made to relieve from this embarrassment. It was at first 
proposed to raise a few thousand dollars and pay off the 
debt. But the better class of business men felt no dispo- 
sition to aid in furnishing a merely temporary relief, and the 
attempt was abandoned. Subsequently, it was proposed to 
increase the endowment by selling scholarships. But the 
same class of men hesitated about adopting such a plan, and 
ultimately gave their influence against it. Not that they 
were opposed to scholarships, but they doubted whether our 
endowment was large enough to justify it. Last fall it was 
abandoned, or at least put in abeyance till a further endow- 
ment could be obtained. In order to maintain the institu- 
tion, there seemed but one course left. It was so to increase 
the endowment that the present liabilities could be met,and 
the present board of instruction increased by filling the 
Chair of Belles Lettres, fully sustained from the sources of 
permanent income. Men of large capital and liberal views 
were favorably disposed to a project of this kind, and to 
nothing else. It was at length resolved to see whether it 
could be realized. The work was begun in January last, 
and was prosecuted with more of prayer than faith. Mr. 
John P. Crozer, with his accustomed liberality, gave the 
first pledge, which was for $20,000. Messrs. E. A. Cory, 
of New York, Horatio Mulford, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, 
Thomas Wattson, John C. Davis, J. P. Levy and J. 0. 
Neafie, all of Philadelphia, followed with pledges of $5,000 
each. Mr. Jacob Keese, of Pittsburgh, also is a subscriber 
to the same amount, $5,000, (The names of all the subscri= 
bers will be preserved in the archives of the Board ot 
Trustees.) Thus, half the sum was raised, and one does not 
see why a few hours might not have been enough to com- 
plete the work thus far, and perhaps no one without some 
experience in that line can fully realize all the appointments^ 
explanations, corrections and delays which are incident to 
what might have seemed a few hours' work. Of the 
remaining half; more than thirty thousand dollars were ia 



13 

subscriptions of not less than five hundred dollars each, and 
ten thousand in subscriptions not less than one hundred 
each. Thus it will be seen that the body of the subscript 
tion is in large sums, and there is, therefore, less proba- 
bility of shrinkage in the collection than there would be 
if it consisted largely of subscriptions in small amounts. 
I have all confidence that the full sum will be realized. 

1 have now made perhaps all the statements that are 
necessary to a full understanding of what has been done in 
the way of establishing and endowing this University. 
When this last subscription has been collected, there will 
have been paid one quarter of a million for that purpose, of 
which more than half will be invested as permanent 
endowment, while two-ihirds of the remainder exist perma- 
nently in the form of land and buildings. 

I would by no means say that it is all that wc shall ever 
need or all that we could profitably use now. But it is such 
that the income will enable the institution to maintain, 
without the chance of subsequent embarrassment, a high 
literary position among the colleges of the land. It will be 
Buch a foundation as no college in the country except 
Harvard University has had until within a very few years. 
The history of American colleges has been a history of 
financial embarrassment. Before the second decade of our 
existence is completed, we have an endowment that will, 
with proper management, preclude the fear of difficulties in 
that direction hereafter. 

The brief review which has now been given will show 
that among the patrons of the University a noble generosity 
has existed. If there have ever been disparaging remarks 
as if its friends were lukewarm towards it, we have here an 
nbundant refutation. For the body of its friends have not 
given sparingly. They have not given on a sudden and 
single impulse and then relapsed into indifi"erence, but they 
have given repeatedly and largely. They have not given 
from an overflowing abundance, in which case their eiforts 
would cost no sacrifice, but they have, in general, taken from 
moneys which they needed for other purposes, and when it 
was a sacrifice to part with these sumS; which they have, 
nevertheless; parted with freely. 



14 

I will add that this last effort is not of a local character, 
but it enlisted the friends of the University in ail parts of 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One effect will therefore be 
to cement the feeling of union between them through this 
wide range. The University is the only object for which 
they contribute in common. The success of the University 
will, therefore, be the one common bond of union. 

It has sometimes been said that a college has seldom it3 
friends near home; that its neighbors give it the cold shoul- 
der,and think of its students that their room is more acceptable 
than their company. I may be pardoned for indulging some 
feeling of prid<} that our students have thus far maintained 
that propriety of deportment and rectitude of character 
which has, in the main, challenged approval,and that none of 
those feuds and animosities have grown up which in some 
other colleges have been a source of constant annoyance. 
And on the other hand, the citizens of Lewisburg have 
given substantial proof of their appreciation of the Univer- 
sity, both by the patronage which they have extended and 
the pecuniary assistance which they have rendered. And I 
will take this occasion to state, as nearly as I have it in my 
power to do, the amount of the contributions from Lewisburg 
to the establishment and endowment of the University ; 

On the first $100,000 112,131 

On the Building Fund 14,700 

On this last 1100,000 10,359 

137,190 
This does not include the subscriptiou made by the 
students during the last few weeks. These subscriptions 
were made in 1848, in 1857 and in 1865 ; and they are such 
as give one confidence in telling, whenever there is occa- 
sion to do so, what Lewisburg has done. I therefore feel 
pride in greeting you as citizens on this occasion. 

This endowment enterprise was begun in the most private 
way, and it became known to the students in the several 
departments of the University only in the way of rumor 
and current intelligence. But when the leading facts 
became known, you came forward unsought and offered your 
noble and voluntary offering towards the completion of the 
work. While it was a purely unsolieited and bfsevoleat 



15 

action on your part, I doubt whether any act of great mag- 
nitude amoDg your best laid plans will have a more perma- 
nent or desirable influence. Most of our efforts have but 
little importance beyond the immediate result. But that 
which goes to influence one's character may be lasting 
beyond the limits of time, and that which goes to the 
formation of character, not in one but in many and in 
successive classes, for many years, even though it may seem 
to you trivial now, will be remembered in future years with 
most satisfaction as among your best works. I may presume 
to represent the Board of Trustees so far as to express to 
you their thanks for this welcome and unexpected aid. 

Ihave thought that I could not better meet your views when 
you have met to celebrate the completion of an endowment 
enterprise for the Univ-ersity than by giving you briefly its 
antecedent financial history. I think few Institutions have 
had a more satisfactory one thus far or bid fairer for a 
satisfactory one in the future. Many of you I shall yet 
meet in the class room and in other relations for years to 
come. But soon even those of you who remain the longest 
will be scattered and enter upon the sterner, if not rougher 
experience of practical life. But as I may from time to 
time meet you when you cease to be the student and become 
the citizen the various pleasant incidents which characterize 
your years of pupilage here will be gathered up into feel- 
ings with which I shall meet you then. And nothing in 
your history here will furnish a subject of more pleasant 
memory than your handsome and liberal participation in 
this endowment enterprise. I trust you may never have 
occasion to entertain other feelings than those of pride for 
the University^ and that you will ever exert yourselves in 
its behalf. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

029 919 J.?3J^_f 



